How to Train Your Dog on a Walk

Training your dog on a walk works best if you offer small treats (dog bites, the good kind!) for performing a desired behavior like sit, stay/down, come, etc. I suggest using a treat pouch to keep your hands free. I like to keep the treat pouch on the opposite side of the dog so they're not as apt to jump up and grab. If I have food in my hand, I hold it high enough and close to my body so the dog can't jump up and grab.

When feeding dogs by hand on a walk, beware that food-aggressive dogs may get excited and try to "bite the hand that feeds" or grab aggressively, especially over high-value foods. You need to read your dog's body language and watch your fingers. If you have any trepidation, talk to a veterinary behaviorist (ACVB), Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT), certified applied animal behaviorist, or an experienced force-free trainer. It's possible that carrying a treat pouch can cause or increase protective, territorial, and guarding-type aggression, as some dogs might get protective over their human carrying a pouch full of tasty dog bites. I find this rare, but if you see any signs of your dog getting aggressive over the treat pouch, get help before proceeding with training.

Keeping Fingers Safe

When I have a dog that grabs food hard out of my hand, here's what I do: I keep the treat in a closed fist, or even two closed fists touching each other and glued to my leg (the bigger the target, the less likely the dog is going to bite your finger). I don't deliver the treat until the dog backs off a little. Then, the second he backs off, I give him the treat to reward that behavior. Never just give the treat for grabby or aggressive behavior.

Here's a little trick I use if I don't want to get my hands dirty while training, or if I'm training a dog that takes food rough out of my hand: I take a non-toxic garden hose — if you're shopping for a hose at a hardware store, look for lead-free, as some garden hoses still contain lead. Cut off a four- to five-inch piece. Slice it lengthwise about an inch, and stuff it with my salmon pâté recipe, peanut butter, or cream cheese. This way, you can feed your dog on a walk by letting them lick the filled hose, and use it to redirect attention when passing big distractions or to curtail barking.

So Why Not Just Use Food Treats All Along?

Well, using food with your dog is both fun and motivating. The way I see it, I work for a paycheck and a dog should too! How would you like to go to work tomorrow and have your boss say, "You have been doing such a good job I decided not to pay you anymore"? Would you go back to work the next day and keep working? I don't think so!

Practice training in different environments. Just because your dog will listen and respond to treats in the kitchen doesn't mean they will listen on a busy street. A human can learn something in one room and be able to perform that behavior anywhere, whereas a dog has to practice in low-distraction areas first and then move to different areas. I like to use food when I first start training a new behavior. Once the dog knows it well, I start to wean down — sometimes even during the first lesson. Eventually, they might get dog bites just some of the time.

Your dog may be overwhelmed, stressed, or fearful. If this is the case, you may have to lower your criteria and build slowly. As the dog improves, you can start asking for a chain of behaviors before you deliver the treat. For instance, request your dog to perform a set of behaviors — "sit," "stay," "come," "down," "roll over" — and then give the reward paired with a pet.

Whenever you pet your dog as a reward, you have to dig deep within yourself to let your dog know that you really mean it! You can't just say "good dog" in a monotone voice and pet half-heartedly. They know when you're faking, trust me. Be aware that many dogs don't like being petted on the head, and others don't like being hugged — petting on the chest might be safer. Some dogs can be taught to like being petted if food is paired at the same time and it's done in a calm, controlled manner.

Brooks' Salmon Pâté

• 6 oz. fresh wild salmon (boneless, skinless)
• 1 tbsp. celery, finely chopped
• 2 tbsp. parsley, finely chopped
• 1 tbsp. butter (room temperature)
• 2 tbsp. plain cream cheese (room temperature)
• 1 lemon, cut in half
• 4 shakes dry Italian seasoning
• 1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard
• 2 tbsp. olive oil
• Sea salt to taste (about 1/4 tsp. total)

Directions: Season salmon with a touch of salt. Poach in a pan with enough cold water to cover. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from the pan and cool completely on a plate before mixing with the remaining ingredients.